The ugliness of the second copy is terrifying. I want to believe that the ability to recognize quality exist in all people on a basic level so they can recognize the blatant distortion of the real thing. And in hundred years the real thing will still be there - though we'll all be just shadows and dust...

Things have become so bad in Australia that daily updates of eBay typewriter listings are dominated by these abominations. What is even more offensive is the prices being asked (usually way over $100). I try to console myself that anyone who simply wants a typewriter as a "decoration" will buy one of these instead of the real thing. But I do believe buyers will be fooled.A very popular and very highly priced item in antique shops here are the mock large-brass-horned wind-up gramophones, which were made recently in India. No attempt is ever made to point out that these are not genuine antiques, but cleverly made, convincing imitations.

To the untrained eye, these typewriters might be very convincing. I recall reading a description for one of these over and over to figure out what was being sold. The "new" in the listing was about the only clarifying note. Personally, I'd find these decorations acceptable if they were sold at Wal-Mart for $5.95.

Typewriter simulacra! Goodness, these are just awful. I wouldn't mind so much if they served some other purpose too - the vents on either side of the Governor's Land seem to indicate the presence of a radio, but I suppose that is just wishful thinking. They haven't shown up around here for the time being - well, except those gaudy children's toys that could in no way (at least I hope!) be mistaken for the real thing.

As props, or paper weights, those fake typewriters look acceptable, and if there's something good about them, in my opinion, is that they free some real machines from becoming mere decorative items... but I do see the parallel with the ancient coins. Someone copying the copy, sometimes adding his/her own personal touches, or abbreviating the "unnecessary" details... in the end they'll produce a crude ceramic block with a few circles on it to pass for the keyboard.

Thank you for your pertinent study in mutation. Very interesting, and very amusing!On a more serious note, and as it is popular to spray, pimp and modify typewriters in the typosphere, this is my call to all typospherians to mark their modified typewriters, for example with a little sticker saying "XY pinxit 2013" "XY changed the label of this typewriter in 2013" or something alike which will allow future owners to distinguish the original from the modified part, and more largely, this is the only way to avoid that fake originals are mistaken for originals and falsy enter typewriter typologies. Ok, warned enough.

That's a very good point. Otherwise creations such as my Purple Prose Producer (pictured above) may be mistaken for original factory machines when they are dug out of the radioactive rubble in the year 2222.

Meant to post the eBay listing. Fortunately, it is listed as "new" and "handmade" from China. Here is the screenshot from the listing: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pr2j9xa1oehgykg/eBay%20model%20listing.tiff